Effective time management is not a fixed skill but rather develops continuously. There is no single right way to manage time well, but it's important to prioritize tasks and find hidden time in each day. Distractions are also something we can control, such as using phones as rewards or working in different locations to focus.

1. EffectiveTime
Management in
College

2. Here’s the
truth…
 Managing your time is not something that you
will become a master at, instead it is a
continuously developing skill!
 Think of it as fluid vs. fixed
 Your weekly, daily, and monthly obligations will
change
 Ex. Exam week vs. not, semester vs. summer, in
school vs. working
 Keep this in mind:
 There is no ONE RIGHT way to manage time well
 Keep a metaphorical “tool belt” of resources and
ideas on how to stay on top of tasks & manage
your time

3. Finding
HiddenTime  Take advantage of time that is usually wasted
 TIP: Fill in a weekly schedule with everything that
happens consistently 7 is a fixed part of your schedule,
then look at all the open time/space!!
1. Stay on campus - always carry “pocket work,” so
you have something to do if you find an extra
moment
2. Look over/reiterate class material immediately after
class, during the time you are walking to your car, or
waiting for a friend
a. Record study information, and play it back when you
are getting ready or driving
 There’s lots of valuable time
hidden in every day
 ** the feeling of not having enough time in the day,
usually means you did not prioritize/plan well
 Prioritizing let’s you focus on the most
important things – so even if you don’t get to
everything on your list, but only what you
deemed high importance, you can look at that
as a well managed day!
 TIP: create a to do list, then put a post it note on top
and list the “high important to do’s there”

4. Work expands, to fit the
time allotted
 We take as long for tasks as we
perceive we have– can you think
of an example?
 In order to combat this effect,
set time/work goals for yourself,
so you don’t end up working on
assignments until the last
minute, just because you can
 Ex. Set an earlier due date for
yourself, which gives you time
to make edits & review OR not
worry about the assignment in
the days elaidng up
 See Time Blocking: A useful
technique above!!

5. Take time to
Save time
 Keeping in Mind Parkinson's Law, when
planning, think about: How long does it take
me to complete certain tasks?
 Where should that time fall into your schedule?
 Ex. 3 page paper – takes some students 5 hours
over the course of 3 days, others 3 hours in one
day – whatever it is for you, block that time in
your schedule!
 Take time to organize and plan!
 Gives you a starting point (where as you may not
know what to do first, and then do nothing!)
 Let’s you look at your day & makes everything in
your day/week seem less intimidating
 Alerts you that you may be stretching yourself
thin, which encourages you to have a
conversation with someone, assess what’s in
your life, cut things out, take a step back and
breathe!

6. Distractions
 You will never get rid of a distraction outright,
instead think of distractions as something
within your control
 If your phone is a distraction:
 Use it as a reward to look through for 15
minutes after an hour of work
 Put it somewhere that is out of sight = out of
mind
 Under a stack of the
textbooks/assignments you are working
on, in a desk drawer, across the room, in
your bag
 Roommates / family /
friends:
 Work somewhere else!
Find another spot on
campus, in your Res. Hall
building, in your town to
complete tasks you are
typically distracted from
 If you go to a
different setting,
you are likely to get
more done in less
time, so you can be
around them sooner
and dedicate time
solely to them!